Local auto sales down in August

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Vehicle sales in the Mahoning Valley in August were down slightly from last year.

The Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio data released Wednesday shows there were 6,275 vehicles, both new and used, sold last month compared with 6,321 in August 2013.

However, the total amount of vehicles sold for 2014 as of August shows an increase at 50,058 compared with 48,445 last year.

“It’s not something to be alarmed about,” said Steve Chos, executive vice president of ADAEO.

The Valley sold almost the same amount of new vehicles at 2,591, one fewer than last year.

There were fewer new Chevrolet makes sold in August at 631 compared with 802 last year. Despite a 21 percent decrease, Douglas Sweeney, president of Sweeney Chevrolet auto dealership, said the decrease was due to more 2014 Chevrolet makes sold prematurely that affected August sales.

“Business has been so good we’ve been sold out of 2014 Chevrolet Malibus, Equinox, Impala and Traverse,” he said.

Additionally, the number of Chevrolets for 2014 as of August are at the same levels of vehicles sold at 5,755 just 14 less than last year.

The fall period is when many dealerships undergo a change-up of both new and old models, Chos said.

The Chevrolet Cruze was the top-selling model for August with 193 vehicles sold, a 10 percent increase from 175 vehicles sold last year. The Cruze also was the top-selling car in its category as a compact car. The Ford Focus came in second with 51 vehicles sold, and the Honda Accord came in third with 43 vehicles sold in August.

For used vehicles, 3,666 were sold last month, a 1.6 percent decrease from last year. The Chevrolet Impala and Chevrolet Malibu were the top-selling used cars, both with 102 sold last month.